Jazz Combos Concert

Hope College Jazz Chamber Ensembles will perform on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music.

The featured groups will be the Prestige Ensemble, the Vanguard Ensemble, the Verve Ensemble and the Blue Note Ensemble.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

In addition, there will also be a post-concert event at 9 p.m. at Butch’s in downtown Holland featuring the Bossa Nova Ensemble and Contemporary Ensemble. Audience members must be at least 21 to attend the event at Butch’s.

The Prestige Ensemble will perform “Sonnymoon for Two,” by Sonny Rollins; “Little Sunflower,” by Freddie Hubbard; and “Autumn Leaves,” by Joseph Kosma. The group is coached by senior Michael Reynolds of Tampa, Fla., and the advisor is Brian Coyle, who is a professor of music and director of the jazz studies area at Hope. The students involved in this ensemble are: guest student Isaac Anderson of Holland, piano; Michael Reynolds, drums; sophomore Macall Smith of Macatawa, guitar; and freshman Daniel Stevens of Kalamazoo.

The Verve Ensemble will perform “A Night in Tunisia,” by John Gillespie; “Topsy,” by Battle/ Durham; “We’ll Be Together Again,” by Fischer/Laine; and “Passion Dance,” by McCoy Tyner. The group is coached by Tom Lockwood, instructor of saxophone, and the student participants are: junior Blake Daugherty of Muskegon, drums; freshman Carsten Forester of Holland, bass; senior Justin Makowski of Detroit, piano; and junior Christian Nikkel of Holland, guitar.

The Blue Note Ensemble will perform “I’ll Remember April,” by de Paul and Raye; “Well You Needn’t,” by Thelonious Monk; and “Spain,” by Chick Corea. The group is coached by Steve Talaga, instructor of jazz piano and competition, and the students involved are: junior Forrest Dodson of Kalamazoo, bass; freshman Palmer D’Orazio of Clarkston, alto saxophone; sophomore Jarred Mackey of Jackson, drums; and freshman Colin Rensch of Kalamazoo, piano.

The Bossa Nova Ensemble’s performance at Butch’s has been scheduled in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the landmark Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto album that brought the Bossa Nova style of music to the United States. The college’s Bossa Nova Ensemble includes: junior Matt Costello of Holland, bass; junior Michael Graverson of Hamilton, guitar; senior Wesley Rieth of Three Oaks, drums; and junior Meghan Stagl of Deerfield, Ill., piano/vocals. The Contemporary Ensemble includes: junior Jared DeMeester of Grand Rapids, bass; senior Luke Panning of Holland, violin; senior Michael Reynolds of Tampa, Fla., piano; and senior Wayne Titus of Canton, drums.

The Jazz Chamber Ensembles afford students the opportunity to perform in the classic small-group combo setting. The ensembles vary in size and instrumentation, and place a creative focus on improvisation and group communication. All of the ensembles perform works from the classic jazz repertoire. The more advanced jazz chamber ensembles also perform repertoire from the contemporary jazz world. These ensembles also place an emphasis on original student and faculty compositions. All ensembles are coached by members of the Hope College jazz faculty. The Jazz Chamber Ensembles are open to anyone interested, regardless of experience with jazz.